Point-of-sale systems

ABSTRACT

A point-of-sale (POS) system is provided. The POS system may include an adjustable housing configured to receive a computing device. The POS system housing may be adjustable so that a screen of the computing device can be viewed by a merchant and a customer. The computing device may be removable from the housing for use as a mobile POS system. The POS system may also include electronics for accepting various forms of payment and for connecting the computing device to a network.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/659,419, filed on Mar. 16, 2015, now allowed, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/099,681, filed onDec. 6, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,033,228, which claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/839,692, filed on Jun. 26,2013.

All above-identified patent applications and patents are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

Embodiments disclosed herein are related to point-of-sale systems.

Related Art

Point-of-sale (POS) systems traditionally have been fixed terminals,such as a cash register, a computer terminal executing merchant-specificapplications for processing transactions, a scale, barcode scanner, andthe like. These traditional terminals are useful for placing behind acounter and conducting transactions at the counter. However, when amerchant wants or needs to conduct a transaction away from the counter,they are unable to move the fixed terminal, and must rely on other waysof conducting the transaction, or require the customer to come to thecounter. Fixed POS terminals usually have a single screen that can beviewed by the merchant and sometimes by the customer, and may onlyprovide a small display to the customer, if at all. Moreover, fixedterminals are typically fixed in the software sense as well, as theapplications used on the terminals are typically fixed, developed,owned, and even controlled by the terminal manufacturer or distributor,and are not able to be easily modified or adaptable to meet the needs ofthe merchant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a detailed illustration of a point-of-sale (POS) system,consistent with some embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate a POS system in different orientations,consistent with some embodiments.

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams illustrating removing a computing device from aPOS system and using the computing device as a mobile POS terminal,consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a POS system, consistent with someembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a printed circuit board and componentsof a lower housing of a POS system, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a POS system having a registercomponent, consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a POS system having chip and personalidentification number (PIN) integration, consistent with someembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a POS system having a secondary device,consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a POS system mounted on a cart,consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a networked system, consistent with someembodiments.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a computing system, consistent withsome embodiments.

In the drawings, elements having the same designation have the same orsimilar functions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, specific details are set forth describingcertain embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in theart that the disclosed embodiments may be practiced without some or allof these specific details. The specific embodiments presented are meantto be illustrative, but not limiting. One skilled in the art may realizeother material that, although not specifically described herein, iswithin the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

What is needed are POS systems with additional functionalities andalternative form factors, and provide a convenient bridge betweentraditional stationary POS systems and mobile POS systems.

Consistent with some embodiments, there is provided a point-of-sale(POS) system. The POS system includes a stand, the stand including anadjustable arm configured to be adjusted between at least a first standposition and a second stand position. The POS system also includes ahousing coupled to the stand. The housing includes a first housingportion having a printed circuit board (PCB) attached thereto, a secondhousing portion having a side panel attached to a first side, and amagnetic stripe reader attached to a second side. The housing is alsoconfigured to removably enclose a computing device between the firsthousing portion and the second housing portion, the computing devicebeing removable through at least the side panel, wherein the computingdevice faces a merchant at the first stand position, and faces acustomer at the second stand position.

Consistent with some embodiments, there is further provided apoint-of-sale (POS) system. The POS system includes a housing configuredto support a computing device in communication with a payment serviceprovider over a network, the payment service provider server processestransactions performed at the point-of-sale system. The POS system alsoincludes a stand coupled to the housing and a card reader coupled to thehousing and the stand.

Embodiments described herein may provide a POS system that a merchantcan use at a fixed location such as a counter, while also allowing themerchant to use the POS system as a mobile POS system. Embodimentsdescribed herein may also provide a POS system that can be used bycustomers as a mobile POS system. In some embodiments, existingcomputing devices may be coupled to or enclosed in the POS systems andthe one or more processors of the computing device may execute merchantapplications to provide the POS functionality. Described embodimentsthat use existing computing devices coupled to or enclosed in a POSsystem may provide functionalities to the merchant for using thecomputing device at a fixed or mobile location, and allowing betterinteraction between the merchant and the customer.

These and other embodiments will be described in further detail belowwith respect to the following figures.

FIG. 1 is a detailed illustration of a POS system 100, consistent withsome embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, POS system 100 includes stand 102and housing 104. In some embodiments, housing 104 may be mounted on orotherwise attached to stand 102. Stand 102 may include an arm 106protruding from an approximate center area of stand 102. Arm 106 mayhave one or more pivotable joints (not shown) for moving housing 104between one or more positions, angles, or orientations.

Stand 102 may also include a base 108. In some embodiments, base 108 maybe part of stand 102, or an area of stand 102. In some embodiments, base108 may be wide and long enough to be placed onto a surface and supporthousing 104. In some embodiments, base 108 may have a hole 110 in acenter thereof wherein arm 106 may occupy the space of hole 110 when arm106 is pivoted into a flat position. Arm 106 may be attached to base 108via one or more connection points at the edge of hole 110. In someembodiments, arm 106 may be detachable from base 108 and stand 102 andmay be mounted directly onto other surfaces.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, base 108 may be angularly rotatable in oneor more directions in some embodiments. For example, base 108 may becylindrical and extend from a first end of housing 104 to a second endof housing 104 while supporting housing 104 such that housing 104 isrotatable about the cylindrical base 108. As another example, base 108may be rotatable in a plane parallel to base 108 such that housing 104may be rotated from a first position to a second position opposite thefirst position, and other positions in between, in a “lazy susan”fashion.

Returning to FIG. 1, system 100 includes a computing device 112 having ascreen. In some embodiments, computing device 112 may be a tabletcomputer, a smartphone, or phone-tablet combination (“phablet”), such aswould be provided on a device running the iOS™ operating system,Android™ operating system, or Windows® operating system. The screen ofcomputing device 112 may be a touch screen, such as a capacitive sensortouch screen. Computing device 112 may be removably enclosed in housing104 such that computing device 112 may be removed from housing 104 andused as a mobile POS system. In some embodiments, housing 104 may beconstructed based on a particular form factor, such as 10″ tablets, 7″tablets, or 4.0″-4.5″ smartphones, and the like. In some embodiments,housing 104 may be constructed to house different form factors in a samehousing 104. Such embodiments may include adaptable spacers, otherenclosure parts, which could be customized to fit a specific formfactor, and connections for accommodating multiple form factors.

System 100 may also include a card reader 114 that may be coupled tohousing 104. Card reader 114 may be a magnetic stripe reader and may beoptionally attached to housing 104. Moreover, although card reader 114is shown on one side of housing 104, card reader 114 may also beattached on other sides of housing 104, or may be separate andelectrically connected to housing 104 and POS system 100. Card reader114 may be integrated into housing 104 in some embodiments. System 100may also include a mobile card reader 116 that may be coupled tocomputing device 112 when computing device 112 is removed from housing104.

In some embodiments, POS system 100 may have one or more apps orapplications stored thereon that may be capable of facilitatingtransactions using computing device 112. For example, computing device112 may include a scanning application, such as RedLaser, that may becapable of scanning or capturing an image of a code printed on a productand performing a lookup of the product based on the code to determineinformation about the product, such as a price of the product. Paymentfor the products may be performed at POS system 100 by swiping a card incard reader 114 or mobile card reader 116, or by using computing device112 to authorize a payment using a payment processing service providersuch as provided by PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif.

FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate POS system 100 in different orientations,consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, POSsystem 100 may be oriented in a first orientation, wherein the firstorientation is a merchant-facing orientation. In the first orientation,a merchant may be able to read graphics and text displayed on computingdevice 112 of POS system 100 and interact with the displayed graphicsand text and on-screen functions. For example, a merchant may use one ormore merchant or payment applications to create an invoice, bill ofsale, or other payment due for a customer based on items that thecustomer is purchasing. When the customer is ready to complete thepurchase, housing 104 of POS system 100 may be rotated, tilted, angled,or otherwise positioned such that computing device 112 is oriented in asecond orientation, which may be a consumer-facing orientation, such asshown in FIGS. 2C and 2D. In some embodiments, housing 104 enclosingcomputing system 112 may be rotatable or pivotable on arm 106 coupled tobase 108. Moreover, in some embodiments, orienting computer device 112may be configured to display a custom customer user interface whenoriented in a consumer-facing orientation. The customer may then be ableto review the invoice or bill of sale, select payment options, swipe apayment card, enter credentials for a payment handled by a paymentprocessing server, such as may be provided by PayPal, Inc. of San Jose,Calif., and/or digitally sign for a purchase.

As shown in FIGS. 2E and 2F, when POS system 100 is not in use or whenmoving POS system 100 or storing POS system 100, POS system 100 may beoriented in a third orientation, which is a flat orientation. In someembodiments, the flat orientation or position shown in FIGS. 2E and 2Fmay also allow a merchant and a customer to simultaneously reviewinformation displayed on computing device 112 of POS system 100, with ascreen of computing device 112 facing upwards. Moreover, in someembodiments, a screen of computing device 112 may be rotated 180° suchthat a screen of computing device 112 is facing downwards to hide thescreen when not in use and protect the screen of computing device 112and to prevent theft of POS system 100. Although only three differentorientations of housing 104 of POS system 100 are shown in FIGS. 2A-2F,other orientations are possible. Moreover, even though the orientationsare described as being achieved by housing 104 pivoting or rotating on apivotable or rotatable arm 106, other structures may be used to pivot orrotate housing 104 of POS system to the orientations shown in FIGS.2A-2F, including structures described previously.

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams illustrating using POS system 100 as a mobilePOS terminal by removing computing device 112, consistent with someembodiments. As shown in FIG. 3A, housing 104 of POS system 100 mayenclose computing device 112. In some embodiments, housing 104 may besealable and lockable. As shown in FIG. 3B, housing 104 may be opened toremove computing device 112. In some embodiments, housing 104 may have aside panel 302 that may be opened to remove computing device 112. Insome embodiments, side panel 302 may be locked, and a key 304 may berequired to open side panel 302 to remove computing device 112 toprovide security for computing device 112. In some embodiments, sidepanel 302 may be locked by a digital locking mechanism instead or of orin addition to a mechanical locking mechanism requiring key 304. Forexample, side panel 302 may be unlocked by entering a code or passwordor other security credential into computing device 112. As anotherexample, side panel 302 may be unlocked by swiping an employee accesscard or similar through card reader 114 or another reader included insystem 100.

As shown in FIG. 3C, after side panel 302 has been opened, card reader114 can be detached from housing 104 and computing device 112. Computingdevice 112 may then be removed from housing 104. A user may then attachmobile card reader 116 to computing device 112. In some embodiments,housing 104 may have sufficient room such that mobile card reader 116 isattached even when computing device 112 is inside housing 104. In someembodiments, mobile card reader 116 may be a PayPal Here card readerprovided by PayPal, Inc. of San Jose, Calif. As shown in FIG. 3D, amerchant or other user may then use computing device 112 with mobilecard reader 116 to conduct transactions while being mobile.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of POS system 100, consistent with someembodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, housing 104 includes an upper housing402 and a lower housing 404. Lower housing 404 may include a printedcircuit board (PCB) and other components 406 and components for thefunctions of POS system 100. Lower housing 404 may also include mountingpoints 408 to which stand 102 having base 108 may be attached. In someembodiments, arm 106 may be directly attached to mounting points 106.Upper housing 402 may include side panel 302 and card reader 114.Computing device 112 may sit within housing 104 between upper housing402 and lower housing 404. When assembled, side panel 302 may be openedso that computing device 112 may be removed and mobile card reader 116can be attached. Side panel 302 may include a locking mechanism in someembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating PCB and components 406 of lower housing404, consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, PCB andcomponents 406 may include a power supply 502, one or more universalserial bus (USB) ports 504, one or more Apple® 30-pin connector orLightning™ connectors 506 and a near-field communications (NFC) module508. PCB and components 406 may also include a built-in wireless routeror access point 510 for creating a wireless hotspot such that computingdevice 112 and other wireless-capable devices can wirelessly connect torouter 510. PCB and components 406 may also include a Bluetooth lowenergy (BLE) beacon 512 for providing a low energy wireless connectionto computing device 112 or other devices. In some embodiments, BLEbeacon 512 may be used to automatically check customers in and/orprocess payments, such as is described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/021,045, filed Sep. 9, 2013, the entire contents of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Components 502-512 maybe mounted on or otherwise coupled to PCB 406. As shown in FIG. 5, cardreader 114 and a locking mechanism 514 may also be coupled to or mountedon PCB 406. Locking mechanism 514 may be a mechanical locking mechanism,or a digital locking mechanism, or a combination thereof.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating POS system 100 having a registercomponent 600, consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 6,stand 102 may sit on or otherwise be attached to register component 600.In some embodiments, as described previously, arm 106 may be detachablefrom base 108 and stand 102 and may be mounted or attached on othersurfaces. Consequently, in some embodiments, arm 106 may be attached toregister component 600. Register component 600 may include a removablecash till or drawer 602 having one or more bill collection slots and acash collection area 604. Cash till or drawer 602 may also have aprinter 606 for printing receipts. Register component 600 may include areceipt outlet 608 at an end thereof so that printer may print receiptsout of register component 600 when cash till or drawer 602 is withinregister component 600. In some embodiments, a surface of receiptcomponent 600 may include mountings 610 for mounting or otherwiseattaching stand 102 or arm 106 to register component 600. Although notshown in FIG. 6, POS system may also be coupled to additionalaccessories as well, including a bar code or other code scanner, ascale, and the like. In some embodiments, printer 606 may be external toregister component 600 and coupled wirelessly or by a wired coupling toPOS system 100.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating POS system 100 having chip and personalidentification number (PIN) integration, consistent with someembodiments. As shown in FIG. 7, POS system 100 may have a “Chip & PIN”device 700 attached thereto. Chip and PIN device 700 may be coupled toPOS system 100 either through a wire, such as shown in FIG. 7, or awireless coupling. Chip and PIN device 700 may be detachably coupled toPOS system. Chip and PIN device 700 may fully comply with EMV (Europay,Mastercard and Visa) standards, such as ISO/IEC 7816 and/or ISO/IEC14443. For example, Chip and PIN device 700 may have a slot 702 forreceiving a card having a chip, a small display 704 for entering a PIN,and a PIN pad 706 for entering the PIN. Display 704 may include a mask,hood, or may include other functionality for masking an entered PINaccording to the Chip and PIN standards. In some embodiments, Chip andPIN device 700 may not include display 704. In some embodiments, Chipand PIN device may also include a magnetic stripe reader for acceptingand reading cards that do not have a chip. Although FIG. 7 illustratesChip and PIN device 700 being coupled to POS system 100 using a wire,Chip and PIN device 700 may include one or more wireless transceiversfor wirelessly coupling to POS system 100.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating POS system 100 having a secondarydevice 800, consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 8,secondary device 800 may be coupled to POS system 100 for use by amerchant or buyer. Secondary device 800 may be a smartphone, tablet, andthe like, and may be similar or the same as computing device 112. Insome embodiments, secondary device 800 may have a smaller form factorthan computing device 112. Secondary device 800 may be coupled to POSsystem 100 by a wired or wireless connection, and may provide a separateinterface for use in a transaction. In some embodiments, a merchant mayuse POS system 100 to process a transaction and provide a customer orbuyer with secondary device 800 to authorize the transaction, sign theirname, or otherwise authorize the transaction. In some embodiments,secondary device 800 may include a housing 802 enclosing a secondarycomputer device 804. In some embodiments, a card reader may be attachedto housing 802 or secondary computer device 804 for processingcard-based payments. In further embodiments, secondary device 800 may beintegrated into POS system 100, such as in stand 102 or registercomponent 600, such that a consumer-facing secondary computer device 804may be removably included in POS system 100.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating POS system 100 mounted on a cart 900,consistent with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 9, POS system 100 mayhave housing 104 enclosing computing device 112 mounted on cart 900,such as a shopping cart. In some embodiments, housing 104 may include adock 902 for securing computing device 112 and providing an electricaland/or data coupling to computing device 112. For example, dock 902 maybe coupled to a power source or capable of storing a charge, such thatcomputing device 112 may be charged when computing device 112 isconnected to dock 902. In some embodiments, dock 902 may provide aphysical connection to a card reader 904. In some embodiments, dock 902may be an actual dock, such as described above but, in some embodiments,dock 902 may just be an area for holding computing device 112, such thatreader 904 may be coupled to computing device 112 by other means, suchas a wireless connection.

In some embodiments, POS system 100 may allow a customer inside a storeto scan and to pay for items by acting as a self-checkout systemutilizing computing device 112. In some embodiments, computing device112 used in POS system shown in FIG. 9 may be a computing device 112supplied by a customer. For example, computing device 112 may have oneor more apps or applications stored thereon that may be capable offacilitating transactions using computing device 112. For example,computing device 112 may include a scanning application, such asRedLaser, that may be capable of capturing an image of a code printed ona product and performing a lookup of the product based on the code todetermine information about the product, such as a price of the product.In some embodiments, the customer or user may attach their computingdevice 112 to POS system 100, and POS system 100 may allow a user toscan a product that they wish to purchase, and then confirm that theywant to purchase the item. The user may then put the product into cart900 and move on to the next product. Payment for the products may beperformed at POS system 100 by swiping a card in card reader 904, or byusing computing device 112 to authorize a payment using a paymentprocessing service provider such as provided by PayPal, Inc. of SanJose, Calif.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a networked system 1000, consistent withsome embodiments. System 1000 includes a computing device 112 and aremote server 1002 in communication over a network 1004. Remote server1002 may be a payment processing service provider server that may bemaintained by a payment processing service provider, such as PayPal,Inc. of San Jose, Calif. Remote server 1002 may be maintained by otherservice providers in different embodiments. Remote server 1002 may alsobe maintained by an entity with which sensitive credentials andinformation may be exchanged with computing system 112. Remote server1002 may be more generally a web site, an online content manager, aservice provider, such as a bank, or other entity who provides contentto a user requiring user authentication or login.

Network 1004, in one embodiment, may be implemented as a single networkor a combination of multiple networks. For example, in variousembodiments, network 1004 may include the Internet and/or one or moreintranets, landline networks, wireless networks, and/or otherappropriate types of communication networks. In another example, thenetwork may comprise a wireless telecommunications network (e.g.,cellular phone network) adapted to communicate with other communicationnetworks, such as the Internet.

Computing device 112, in one embodiment, may be implemented using anyappropriate combination of hardware and/or software configured for wiredand/or wireless communication over network 1004. In particular,computing device 112 may be a smartphone or tablet computer, such asdescribed above. Consistent with some embodiments, computing device 112may include any appropriate combination of hardware and/or softwarehaving one or more processors and capable of reading instructions storedon a tangible non-transitory machine-readable medium for execution bythe one or more processors. Consistent with some embodiments, computingdevice 112 includes a machine-readable medium, such as a memory (notshown) that includes instructions for execution by one or moreprocessors (not shown) for causing computing device 112 to performspecific tasks. For example, such instructions may include a paymentapplication 1006 that may allow a merchant or customer use computingdevice 112 to authorize a payment. In some embodiments, paymentapplication 1006 may be configured to interface with remote server 1002over network 1004 to authorize payments processed by remote server 1002.

Computing device 112 may also include one or more merchant applications1008. In some embodiments, merchant applications 1008 may beapplications that allow a merchant or buyer to use computing device 112in POS system 100. Merchant applications 1008 may include anyapplications that allow a merchant or customer to, scan goods and/orservices (collectively referred to as items or products) to create abill of sale or invoice, and then pay for the items using paymentapplication 1006 and/or a card reader, such as card reader 114, mobilecard reader 116, or card reader 904. Merchant applications 1008 mayallow a merchant to accept various credit, gift, or debit cards, cash,or payment processing service providers, such as PayPal, Inc., of SanJose, Calif., such as may be provided by remote server 1002, for paymentfor items.

Computing device 112 may include other applications 1010 as may bedesired in one or more embodiments to provide additional featuresavailable. For example, applications 1010 may include interfaces andcommunication protocols that allow a merchant or customer receive andtransmit information through network 1004 and to remote server 1002 andother online sites. Applications 1010 may also include securityapplications for implementing client-side security features,programmatic client applications for interfacing with appropriate APIsover network 1004 or various other types of generally known programsand/or applications. Applications 1010 may include mobile applicationsdownloaded and resident on computing device 112 that enables merchantsand customers to access content through applications 1010.

Remote server 1002, according to some embodiments, may be maintained byan online payment provider or payment processing provider, which mayprovide processing for online financial and payment transactions onbehalf of users including merchants and customers. Remote server 1002may include at least transaction application 1012, which may beconfigured to interact with merchant applications 1008 of computingdevice 112 over network 1004 to receive and process transactions. Remoteserver 1002 may also include an account database 1014 that includesaccount information 1016 for users having an account on remote server1002, such as a customer or merchant. In some embodiments, transactionapplication 1012 may store and retrieve financial information in accountinformation 1016 of account database 1014. Remote server 1002 mayinclude other applications 1018, such as may be provided forauthenticating users to remote server 1002, for performing financialtransactions, and for processing payments. Remote server 1002 may alsobe in communication with one or more external databases 1020, that mayprovide additional information that may be used by remote server 1002.In some embodiments, databases 1020 may be databases maintained by thirdparties, and may include third party financial information of merchantsand customers.

Although discussion has been made of applications and applications oncomputing device 112 and remote server 1002, the applications may alsobe, in some embodiments, modules. Module, as used herein, may refer to asoftware module that performs a function when executed by one or moreprocessors or Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) or othercircuit having memory and at least one processor for executinginstructions to perform a function, such as the functions described asbeing performed by the described applications.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating computing system 1100, which maycorrespond to either of client computing device 102 or remote server104, consistent with some embodiments. Computing system 1100 may be amobile device such as a smartphone, a tablet computer, and the like aswould be consistent with computing device 112. Further, computing system1100 may also be a server or one server amongst a plurality of servers,as would be consistent with remote server 104. As shown in FIG. 11,computing system 1100 includes a network interface component (NIC) 1102configured for communication with a network such as network 1006 shownin FIG. 10. Consistent with some embodiments, NIC 1102 includes awireless communication component, such as a wireless broadbandcomponent, a wireless satellite component, or various other types ofwireless communication components including radio frequency (RF),microwave frequency (MWF), and/or infrared (IR) components configuredfor communication with network 1006. Consistent with other embodiments,NIC 1102 may be configured to interface with a coaxial cable, a fiberoptic cable, a digital subscriber line (DSL) modem, a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) modem, an Ethernet device, and/or various othertypes of wired and/or wireless network communication devices adapted forcommunication with network 1006.

Consistent with some embodiments, computing system 1100 includes asystem bus 1104 for interconnecting various components within computingsystem 1100 and communicating information between the variouscomponents. Such components include a processing component 1106, whichmay be one or more processors, micro-controllers, graphics processingunits (GPUs) or digital signal processors (DSPs), and a memory component1108, which may correspond to a random access memory (RAM), an internalmemory component, a read-only memory (ROM), or an external or staticoptical, magnetic, or solid-state memory. Consistent with someembodiments, computing system 1100 further includes a display component1110 for displaying information to a user of computing system 1100.Display component 1110 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, anorganic light emitting diode (OLED) screen (including active matrixAMOLED screens), an LED screen, a plasma display, or a cathode ray tube(CRT) display. Computing system 1100 may also include an input component1112, allowing for a user of computing system 1100, to input informationto computing system 1100. Such information could include paymentinformation such as an amount required to complete a transaction,account information, authentication information such as a credential, oridentification information. An input component 1112 may include, forexample, a keyboard or key pad, whether physical or virtual. Computingsystem 1100 may further include a navigation control component 1114,configured to allow a user to navigate along display component 1110.Consistent with some embodiments, navigation control component 1114 maybe a mouse, a trackball, or other such device. Moreover, if device 1100includes a touch screen, display component 1110, input component 1112,and navigation control 1114 may be a single integrated component, suchas a capacitive sensor-based touch screen.

Computing system 1100 may further include a location component 1116 fordetermining a location of computing system 1100. In some embodiments,location component 1116 may correspond to a GPS transceiver that is incommunication with one or more GPS satellites. In other embodiments,location component 1116 may be configured to determine a location ofcomputing system 1100 by using an internet protocol (IP) address lookup,or by triangulating a position based on nearby telecommunicationstowers, wireless access points (WAPs), or BLE beacons. Locationcomponent 1116 may be further configured to store a user-definedlocation in memory component 1108 that can be transmitted to a thirdparty for the purpose of identifying a location of computing system1100. Computing system 1100 may also include sensor components 1118.Sensor components 1118 provide sensor functionality, and may correspondto sensors built into, for example, computing device 112 or sensorperipherals coupled to computing device 112. Sensor components 1118 mayinclude any sensory device that captures information related tocomputing device 112 or a merchant or customer using computing device112 and any actions performed using computing device 112. Sensorcomponents 1118 may include camera and imaging components,accelerometers, biometric readers, GPS devices, motion capture devices,and other devices. Computing system 1100 may also include one or morewireless transceivers 1120 that may each include an antenna that isseparable or integral and is capable of transmitting and receivinginformation according to one or more wireless network protocols, such asWi-Fi™, 3G, 4G, HSDPA, LTE, RF, NFC, IEEE 802.11a, b, g, n, ac, or ad,Bluetooth®, BLE, WiMAX, ZigBee®, etc. With respect to computing device112, wireless transceiver 1120 may include BLE beacon 512, NFC module508, and Wi-Fi router 510 shown in FIG. 5.

Computing system 1100 may perform specific operations by processingcomponent 1106 executing one or more sequences of instructions containedmemory component 1108. In other embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may beused in place of or in combination with software instructions toimplement the present disclosure. Logic may be encoded in a computerreadable medium, which may refer to any medium that participates inproviding instructions to processing component 1106 for execution,including memory component 1108. Consistent with some embodiments, thecomputer readable medium is tangible and non-transitory. In variousimplementations, non-volatile media include optical or magnetic disks,volatile media includes dynamic memory, and transmission media includescoaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, including wires thatcomprise system bus 1104. According to some embodiments, transmissionmedia may take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as thosegenerated during radio wave and infrared data communications. Somecommon forms of computer readable media include, for example, floppydisk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magneticmedium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, anyother physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, PROM, EPROM,FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, carrier wave, or anyother medium from which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, execution ofinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure may beperformed by computing system 1100. In various other embodiments of thepresent disclosure, a plurality of computing systems 1100 coupled by acommunication link 1122 to network 1006 (e.g., such as a LAN, WLAN,PTSN, and/or various other wired or wireless networks, includingtelecommunications, mobile, and cellular phone networks) may performinstruction sequences to practice the present disclosure in coordinationwith one another. Computing system 1100 may transmit and receivemessages, data and one or more data packets, information andinstructions, including one or more programs (i.e., application code)through communication link 1122 and network interface component 1102and/or wireless transceiver 1120. Received program code may be executedby processing component 1106 as received and/or stored in memorycomponent 1108.

Computing system 1100 may include more or less components than shown inFIG. 11 according to some embodiments. For example, if computing system1100 corresponds to computing device 112, such as shown in FIG. 5 andnot specifically referred to in FIG. 11. Moreover, components shown inFIG. 11 may be directly coupled to one or more other components in FIG.11, eliminating a need for system bus 1104. Furthermore, componentsshown in FIG. 11 may be shown as being part of a unitary system 1100,but may also be part of a distributed system where the components areseparate but coupled and in communication. In general, the componentsshown in FIG. 11 are shown as examples of components in a computingsystem 1100 capable of performing embodiments disclosed herein. However,a processing system 1100 may have more or fewer components and still becapable of performing some embodiments disclosed herein.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as programcode and/or data, may be stored on one or more machine-readable mediums,including non-transitory machine-readable medium. It is alsocontemplated that software identified herein may be implemented usingone or more general purpose or specific purpose computers and/orcomputer systems, networked and/or otherwise. Where applicable, theordering of various steps described herein may be changed, combined intocomposite steps, and/or separated into sub-steps to provide featuresdescribed herein.

Consequently, embodiments as described herein may provide POS systemswith additional functionalities and form factors, and provide aconvenient bridge between traditional stationary POS systems and mobilePOS systems. The examples provided above are exemplary only and are notintended to be limiting. One skilled in the art may readily devise othersystems consistent with the disclosed embodiments which are intended tobe within the scope of this disclosure. As such, the application islimited only by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A point-of-sale system, comprising: a housing configured toenclose a computing device such that a touch screen of the computingdevice is usable by a user when the computing device is enclosed withinthe housing, the housing for facilitating financial transactions usingthe computing device; and a digital credential receipt mechanismconfigured to control mechanical locking of the computing device to thepoint-of-sale system when the computing device is enclosed within thehousing.
 2. The point-of-sale system of claim 1, wherein the digitalcredential receipt mechanism is configured to unlock the computingdevice from the housing, responsive to a successful electroniccredential authentication.
 3. The point-of-sale system of claim 1,wherein the digital credential receipt mechanism is located on a sidepanel and wherein the digital credential receipt mechanism is configuredto unlock the computing device from the housing.
 4. The point-of-salesystem according to claim 1, wherein the computing device is configuredto process user payment outside the housing.
 5. The point-of-sale systemof claim 1, further comprising: a mobile payment instrument readermechanically connected to and detachable from the computing device; andwherein the computing device is configured to process payment on apayment instrument based on information identifying the paymentinstrument provided by the mobile payment instrument reader.
 6. Thepoint-of-sale system of claim 1, further comprising: a product codescanner; and wherein the computing device is configured to identifyinformation about a product based on a product code provided by theproduct code scanner.
 7. The point-of-sale system of claim 1, whereinthe housing is configured to enclose the computing device such that atouch screen of the computing device is viewable to a user, when thecomputing device is enclosed within the housing.
 8. The point-of-salesystem of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to enclose thecomputing device such that a touch screen of the computing device isaccessible to a user for providing input to the computing device, whenthe computing device is enclosed within the housing.
 9. Thepoint-of-sale system of claim 1 further comprising a base and anadjustable arm connecting the housing to the base.
 10. The point-of-salesystem of claim 9, wherein the adjustable arm is further configured tobe collapsible such that the computing device lies horizontally on thebase.
 11. The point-of-sale system of claim 9, further comprising: amobile payment instrument reader wirelessly connected to the computingdevice; and wherein the computing device is configured to processpayment on a payment instrument based on information identifying thepayment instrument provided by the mobile payment instrument reader. 12.The point-of-sale system of claim 9, wherein the adjustable arm isfurther configured such that a screen on the computing device is rotateddownward toward the housing for protecting the screen.
 13. Thepoint-of-sale system of claim 9, wherein the base is cylindrical andextends from a first end of the housing to a second end of the housing.14. The point-of-sale system of claim 1 is a mobile point-of-salesystem.
 15. The point-of-sale system of claim 1 includes a single touchscreen.